Process of making matches.



- sun, of 12 .ing the match-sticks and said mtrated sticks with an igniting composi- Padres]? Patented April Q, 1QQ15.

. JENs HERMAN onsisri'wsnn,

on oornnnnsnn, pennan s Pen-ones 0 sesame inarcess.

I SPECIFICATION formingpart'of Letters Iatent No.

assess, dated April arena.

Application filed July 10,4903. $eria1No.164,991.

To (all whom it nu y concern:

Be it known that I, Jens HERMAN CHRISTEN- St. Kannikestraede, Copenhagen, in the Kingdom of Denmark, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Making Matches, of which the following is a specification. I

The object of this invention is to provide a process by which headless matches of a durable character and capable of easy ignition are produced.

For this purpose the invention consists in the process hereinafter described of making matches, which comprises the steps of nitrattheu impregnating tionr In carrying out my new process the match sticks, which are customarily of wood,are first nitrated. This .nitrating may be effected by submerging the tips of the stickain ,a solution of nitric acid of any tration.

suitable degree of concen- To the solution may be added other substances which do not affect the desired action, but which serve for other purposes in connection with the nitration. Nitric acid of about thirty per centcis employed at the temperature at which no obnoxious formation of fumes takes place. This temperature is about 85 centigrade. The ti s of the sticks are re: tained in the nitrating uid until thoroughlyimpregnated. The completion of the treatmerit is indicated when the nitrated portion, which is at tirst red, becomes yellow., The excess of nitric acid in the tips, which would subsequently become injurious owing to the hydrochloric acid being liberated in the igniting composition, may be removed or neutralized by simply washing hot vraten. The excess of acid may also be neutralized orrendered harmless by washing the sticks in an aqueous solution of suitable basic compounds or salts of weak acids which do not impart to the match-sticks hygroscopic properties. In most'cases it is preferable to use compounds of potassium, strontium, ba-.

h ydrosulfid of barium, or lead-tor instance,

the match-sticks in rium After the nitration the match-sticks are at their tips dipped into an igniting composi tion. Such a composition may, for instance,

consist of one hundred parts chlorate-oi bari-' um with either four parts. of nitrate of lead and six parts of chlorate of p0tassium,'or eight parts nitrate of copper and four, parts chlorate of potassium, or with only five parts of hydrosulfid of barium, together with the quantities of water necessary for dissolving the above-mentioned substance at boiling temperature. This composition is of itselfnon-explosive. in combination with wind it iniiames under the heat of friction; Such combination is promoted by the nitration of-the match-sticks. The tips are retained in this composition for a period of utes. They are to dry, Whenidried, thematches are ready forthe boxes. 4

Instead of. removing or neutralizing the excess of nitric acid before dipping the tips into the igniting solution these two steps may be carried out simultaneously by adding to the igniting composition a suitable neutralising substance or a salt of the aboi're-mentioned weak acids. Simultaneously with the removal of the excess of nitric acid qualities may be imparted to the matches which increase their two or three minthen removed and permitted.

infla'rnmability. Thus, for example, sulfur may be added by-employing asa neutralizing agent a solution containing hydrosultid of carium or other easily-inflammable organic compounds or by employingqthe salt of a weak organic acid. The matches produced by my new process are extremely durable, ignite easily, and are provided with soft tips. The nitration acts to soften the tips. nited and owing-to not injure the surface'across'which they are drawn for ignition.

Havingthus described my invention, 1 claim They are Very ea il igi the softness of the ti as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The herein-described process ot'making matches, which consists in subjecting the tips of match-sticks to the action of a nitrating composition, removing-the excess of nitric In testimony that I claim the foregoing as acid and then impregnating the sticks-withan my inventionl have signed my name in pres- 9 igniting composition.

2. The herein-described process of making matches, which consists in nitrating matchsticks, washing the nitrated sticks and then impregnating the same with an igniting composition containing salts of a weak acid.

ence of two subscribing witnesses.

JENS HERMAN CHRISTENSEN.

Witnesses:

A. COFMAN-BANG, J. C. JAcoBsEn. 

